Banding-machine.



PATENTED JAN. 1, 1907.

A. SHEDLOGK. V I BANDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 10. 1902.

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PATENTED JAN. 1, 1907.

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A.SHEDLO OK. BANDING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 10. 1902.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALFRED SHEDLOCK, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE AMERICAN TOBACCO COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

BANDlNG-MACHINE.

I Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 1, 1907.

Application filed September 10. 1902. Serial No. 122,779.

' 'ing specification and the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the same.-

This invention relates to certain improvements in machines for applying bands to articles, the machine being more especially intended for applying ornamental and distinguishing bands to cigars.

The ornamental and distinguishing bands now commonly used in many brands of cigars are usually applied to the cigars by hand, the strip from which the band is formed being folded around the cigar and the ends of the strip being caused to adhere by gum. This hand operation is slow, and, furthermore, the bands thus applied fre uently adhere to the cigar, either because t ere an excess of gum on the strip or because the gummed portion' of the stripcomes in c ontact'with the Wrapper of the cigar. The cigar or wrapper is therefore liable to be torn when the band is removed, 'as it usually is beforethe cigar is smoked.

It is one-of the objects of this invention to produce an improved machine by which bands may be rapidly applied to cigars.

A further object of the invention is to produce a machine in which bands may be Ia idly applied to cigars, the bands being snugly fitted to the cigars, and at'thesame time the danger that they will adhere to the cigarwrappers being obviated.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in certain constructions and in certain parts, improvements, and combinations, as will be hereinafter fully de scribed and then specifically pointed out in the claims hereunto appended. i

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of,a machine for applyin bands to cigars. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation o r the same. Fig. 3 is a side elevation partly in section." Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 are detail views illustrating the operation of the band-carrier and applying device.

Referring to the drawings, which illustrate a concrete embodiment of theinvention, the

- shown, as the frame, which may be of any desired configuration, is shown as consisting of a front standard. 1 and a rear standard 2, said standards being supported on a base 3.

The machine is provided with a suitable holder for the cigars or other articles to be banded. This holder, in the preferred form of the construction, will be arran ed to support a plurality of articles and widl be given a step-by-step movement to present the cigars to the band-applyin .device. In the construction shown this ho der consists of a ring 4, which is provided with a series of concave recesses 5 ,in which the ci ars are placed by hand or in any other suitab e manner, the cigars being retained in the recesses, in the construction shown, by means of springs 6. The holder may be supported and operated in any suitable manner. As shown, it is carried on a disk 7, 'said disk being loosely mounted 'on a shaft 8, which is supported in I suitable hearings in the standards 1 and 2, be-

fore referred to.

The means for giving the holder an intermittent movement may be varied within Wide limits. As shown, the interior of the ring 4 is provided with an internal ear 9, the teeth of said gear being in mesh wit a pinion 10, mounted on a stud 1 1, suitably supported in the base 3. This pinion 10 has abroad face and is also in engagement with a mutilated gear 12, which is fixed on the shaft 8.

The shaft 8 may be continuously driven in any suitable manner but such means are not are not necessary for an understanding o the invention.

. In the preferred form of the construction the bands will be formed before they are applied to the cigars, and the machine will therefore, preferably, embody a former for this purpose. The construction of the former may be varied within wide limits. Preferably, however, therformer will be of the collapsible type, and, as shown, there is provided a sleeve 13, Which is secured by means of a set-screw 14in a recess in the frame 2. This sleeve is provided (see Figs. 4 and 5) with a projection or spur 15, to .Which is secured one end of a flexible metallic strip 16, the other end of this strip being secured to an arm 17, mounted on a shaft 18,

said shaft being provided on its rear end with spondingly increased or diminished in size.

The former is shown as distended in Fig. 4

- and collapsed in Fig. 5.

The means for rocking the shaft may be of any desired description. Preferably, however, the arm 19 carries a pin 20, which engages with a recess in the arm 21 of a bellcrank lever 21 2 2, the arm 22 of said lever being provided with a bowl 23, which run on the fperiphery of a cam 24, mounted on he sha 8. I

Inoperating the machine the operator places the strip from which the band is to be ormed around the former when the same is distended, the ends of the strip being united b gum applied thereto in-the usual manner. T e former is then collapsed, after which the band can be readily removed. While the former might, in someforms of machine in which certain features of the invention might be embodied, be of such a diameter that the band made thereon would be of the same diameter as the cigar to which it is to be applied, in the preferred form of the construction the former will be of a somewhat greater diameter than the cigar, so that the band formed thereon will loosely surround the cigar when it is first positioned thereon. The

urpose of this construction will be explained ater.

The means by which the band is transferred from the former to the cigar may be widely'varied in construction. Preferably, however, this transferr' means or band-' carrier not only trans er the band to and position 1t on the cigar, but will snugly apply it thereto. To this'end, as shown, the bandcarrier includes a pair of straining and creasing jaws, said jaws being operated to take theband from the former and position it on the cigar, they being thereafter further operated to strain the band'about the cigar and crease it, the surplus material in the band be ing thus squeezed together and formed into a projection or tab which can-be seized and torn away from the band when the band is to,

'be removed from the cigar. -When the band-applying jaws areemiployed, they may ciprocat' be mounted and operate in any desired. manner. In the construction shown there is 1pirov ded a carriage consisting of-ablock 25,? w ch is arranged to slide on rods 26, which aresupported in the uprights 1 and 2. This block orcarriage 25 has a depending stud on which is mounted'a cam-roller 27, in a cam-groove' 28, formed 'in, a cylinder 29, mounted on the shaft 8, before referred to, said cam serving to give the carriage its re movement. Loosel mounted in the bloc 25 is a stem 30, whic has a perforated head 31, to which the straining jaws 32 33 are pivoted. These jaws corre- 53, which is secured to the rod 37.

spond in shape to the contour of the article to be handed. As shown, inasmuch as the article to be'banded is a cigar, these jaws are substantially semicircular in shape.

When the jaws are used to apply a previously-formed'band which is larger in diameter than the cigar, they will preferably be constructed not only to strain the band to the cigar but to squeeze and crease the surplus portion. of the band so that it is formed into a projection or tab. To this end the jaws will .be constructed so that their forward ends meet, and preferably, also, these meeting faces will be arranged to bend the projection or tab which they form from the surplus material of the band at an angle to the diameter of the cigar. In the construction shown this is effected by forming the meeting face of the jaw 33 at an acute angle and the meeting face of the jaw 32 at an obtuse angle, as clearly shown in Figs. 4 to 9. The means for operating the bandapplydevice so far described may be of any suitable description. Preferably, however, the applying device as a whole will be moved upward or toward the center of the cigar, so as to bring the'bandin close-contact with the under side of the same, after which the jaws will be moved inward to strain the band and, when the jaws are creasing-jaws, to crease it. In the construction shown an eccentric-rod 35 passes through the perforation in the head 31, the rotation of this rod serving to give the head its vertical movement or movement toward the center of the cigar. Lying alongside the eccentric-rod 35 are two other eccentric-rods 36 and 37. The rod 36 is embraced by an eccentric-strap 38, the eccentric-rod 39 of this strap being pivoted to a boss 40, which extends from the 'aw 32. Similarly the rod 37 embraced y an eccentric-strap 41, the eccentric-rod 42 of which is pivoted toa boss 43, extending from the jaw 33.

The driving means for the eccentric-rods 35 and 36 may be of any desired character. As shown, the rod 35 (see Fig. 3 and dotted lines in Fig. 1) is provided with a pinion 44, which is in mesh \with a rack formed on one of the-arms 45 of a bell-crank lever 45- 46, the arm 46 carrying a bowl 47, which is engaged by a cam-groove on the end of the cylinder 29, before referred to. The rod 36 (see Fig. 2) is provided with a pinion 48, which is in engagement with arack formed on the arm 49 of a bell-crank lever 49 50, the arm 50 being provided'with a cam-roll51, which en gages a cam-groove formed in the rear end of. the cylinder 29. The rod 36 is further provided with a se ent-lever 52, said lever being in mesh wit another segment lfir Q. cams referred to aretimedso as to give the rods, through the operating connections described, the movements referred to in the proper sequence in order to first move the head 31 up against the cigar and then move the jaws inward in order to strain the band around the cigar. After the band has been applied to the cigar the jaws and head are operated to release-the cigar, after which the carriage is moved backward by its cam.

.' The eccentric-rods 36 37 are then operated to cause the jaws to seize or grip the band which has been formed by the operator on the former, the former being collapsed at this time through the mechanism which has been described. After the jaws have gripped the band the carriage is reciprocated in the opposite direction, the jaws being thus caused to carry the band over the cigar into proper position to be strained thereabout and suitablycreased. After the jaws have placed the band upon the cigar and creased it so as to form a projecting tab, which is indicated at 56 in Fig. 9, the tab will preferably be bent over so as to lie flat against the band. This may be accomplished b any suitable form of mechanism. As s own, however, there is provided a bending-ring 54, which lies alongside the path of the holder, this bending-ring being located so as to wipe down the projecting tab as the cigars are carried along by the holder.

While the mechanism which has just been -described constitutes a preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied in mechanism which differs widely from that shown and described. It follows, therefore, that many changes and variations may be made in the construction without departing from the invention. It is also to be understood that certain features of the construction may be used independently of other features and that such use is contemplated. While, furthermore, the machine in which the invention is shown as embodied is particularly intended for placing bands on ci ars, it willbe understood that mechanisms w ich fall within the invention may be employed for placing bands on other articles.

I nation with a holder constructed to support a plurality. of cigars, of band-applying means operating to supply a band for each cigar and means for producmg proper relative movements between the holder and the band-applying means to apply bands to successive cigars, substantially as described.

4. In a cigar-banding machine, the combination with a holder for cigars, of means for applying a formed band to a cigar su ported in said holder, substantially as descri ed.

5. In a cigar-banding machine, the combination with a holder constructed to support a plurality of cigars, of means for appl ing a formed band to each cigar, and means or opcrating the holder, substantially as described.

6. In a cigar-banding machine, the combination with a former, of a holder for cigars, and means for transferring a band froin the former to the cigar, substantially as described.

. 7. In a cigar-banding machine, the combination with a former, of a cigar-holder, a band-carrier, and means for moving the car rier from the former to the cigar in the holder, substantially as described.

8. The combination with a former, of an article-holder, a band-carrier, means for op-, erating the carrier to cause it to grasp a band on the former, and means for operating the carrier to osition the band on the article, substantia y as described.

9. The combination with an article-holder, of a band-carrier, means for operating the carrier to position the band with res ect to the article, and means for operating t e carrier to ap ly the band to the article, substan tially as escribed.

10. The combination with an article-holder, ofmeansforreducingthe diameter of alooselyfitting formed band on an article in the holder, whereby the band is caused to snuglyfit the article, substantially as described.

11. The combination with an article-holder, of a band-applying device including'movable straining and creasing jaws, and means for operating said jaws, substantially as described.

12. The combinationwith an article-holder, of a former, a band-carrier having movable jaws, means for causing the carrier to remove a band from the former, and means for thereafter operating the carrier to apply a band to an article, substantially as described.

13. The combination with an article-holder, of a'former, a band-carrier having movable creasing and straining jaws, means for operating the carrier to cause it to remove a band from the former, and means for thereafter operating the carrier to strain and creasea band about an article, substantially as described.

' 14. The combination with an article-holder,

of a former, a band-carrier having movable and strainlng aws, means for open causin the band-carrier to remove the hand 1 6. The combination with an article-holder, of a collapsible former, and means for transferring a band from the collapsed former to an article in the holder, substantially as described.

17. The combination with an article-hol der, of a collapsible former, a band-carrier having movable applying-jaws, means for causing the carrier to remove a band from the former and means for thereafter operating the applying-jaws to cause them to strain a band.

about an article in the holder, substantially as described.

18. The combination with an article-holder, of a collapsible former, a band-carrier having movable straining and creasing jaws, means for-causing said carrier to remove a band from the former and position it on an article in the holder, and means for operating vthe jaws to strain the band about the article and crease the same, substantially as described.

1 9.. The combination with an article-holder, of a collapsible former, a band-carrier having movable straining and creasing jaws, means for causing said carrier to remove a band from the former'and position it on an I article in the holder, means for operating the jaws to strain the band about the article and crease the band, and means for turning down the projecting portion of the band, substantially as described. I

20. The combination with a former, of an article-holder, a carriage, band-applying jaws mounted on said carriage, means for reciprocating the carriage between the former and the holder, and means for operating the applying-j aws, substantially as described.

21. The combination with an article-holder, of a former, a carriage, means -for reciprocating the carriage between the former and the holder, straining and creasing j aws mount- ,ed on the carriage, and means for operating the jaws to strain and crease a band about an article in the holder, substantially as described.

22. The'combination withan article-holder,

.23. The combination with a movable article-holder, of means for applying a band to an article in the holder, said applying means producing a creased'projecting portion, and means alongside the ath of movement of the support for turning own said projecting portion substantially as described.

24. The combination with a rotary articleholder constructed to carry a plurality of articles, of means for applying aband to each article in the holder, said applying means producing a' creased projecting portion, and

means alongside the ath of movement of the support for turning own said proj ecting portion, substantially as describe 25. The combination with a former, of an article-holder, a carriage, a band-a plying device mounted on the carriage sai device including movable jaws, means for operating the jaws to cause them to grip a band on the former, means for reciprocating the carriage whereby the band is positioned on an article, 1

means for giving the applying device a movement toward the center of the article, and

means for moving the jaws toward each;

other, substantially as described.

26. The combination with an article-. holder, of a collapsible former, a carriage, a band-applying device mounted thereon said device including movable straining and creasing jaws, means for operating the jawsto grip a band on the former, means forreciproeating the carriage to cause the applyingdevice to position a band on the article, means for moving the applying device toward the center of. the article, means for operating the .jaws to strain and crease the band, and means for thereafter turning down the creased projecting portion of the band, substantially as described.

27. The combination with a rotary articleholder constructed to carry a plurality of articles, of a collapsible former, a carriage, a band-applying -device mounted thereon said device including -movable straining and creasing jaws, means for operating the jaws to grip a band on the former, means for re ciprocating the carriage to cause the applyr therein, an eccentric for operating the head,

a pair of jaws pivoted thereto, and eccentrics for operating the jaws, substantiallyas described.

29. The combination with. an articleholder, of a former, a carriage, means for reciprocating the carriage between the support and the former, a sliding head loosely mounted in the carriage, an eccentric-rod for oper-- ating the head, a pair of jaws pivotedto the head, and a pair of eccentric-rods for operating the jaws, substantially as described.)

30. The combination with an article-1 means forgiving'the holder an intermittent holder having a plurality of pockets therein,

the carriage on the supports, a collapsible.

- former, a band-carrying head loosely IIlOllIll'r ed in the carriage, an eccentric-rod for moving the head, a pair of straining and creasing jaws mounted in the head,eccentric-rods for 15 operating the jaws,- gearing for o erating the eccentric-rods, and a resser-p ate located alongside the path 0 movement of the holder, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set 20 my hand in the presence of. two subscribing witnesses.

ALFRED SHEDLOCK. Witnesses:

DAVID GR'ANT, SYDNEY I. Pnnsoo'r'r. 

